Skip to main content
to tip

to tip

167 1.8
To move something so it leans or falls to one side
  • verb
  • /tɪp/
: inclinar
  • Please be careful not to tip the glass while pouring the water.
  • tip the balance
  • tip the scales
  • tip in favor of

Now I'm going to tip it, see what it does.

Autoplay Next

Examples

  • Tip your hat forward.

  • Addiction occurs when a person tips the scale of vulnerability in the direction of the disease.

    Academic text (1993)
  • Now I'm going to tip it, see what it does.

  • I'm just going to tip the excess back into that.

  • The other one tips it towards safer choices.

  • You gotta keep still or you're gonna tip us over.

  • So the block can't slide, but it will tip about this point.

  • And it wouldn't take much to tip the Midlands into a big problem.

  • Okay, so we use the pulleys to tip over the vat.

  • If the front becomes too light, the chair may easily tip into a wheelie during acceleration.

    Academic text (1993)

Synonyms

to lean
vsto tip
590 1.5

To bend or rest at an angle against something

is more active, meaning to move something from upright rather than just rest
to tilt
vsto tip
124 2.0

To move into a sloping or leaning position

is broader, also causing an object to fall from its upright position
to turn over
vsto tip
118 2.6

Flip something so the other side faces up

is specifically about shifting from an upright position, not just showing another side
to topple
vsto tip
87 4.1

To fall over or make something fall over, often suddenly when it loses balance

is a broader action of inclining or gently overturning rather than sudden collapse
to flip over
vsto tip
56 2.5

Turn something so the side that was up is now down

is a slower or gradual move from vertical rather than a fast reversal
to tip over
vsto tip
33 3.0

Make something fall from a standing position

is about causing leaning without implying immediate fall
to overturn
vsto tip
27 4.1

Make something flip so it is upside down or on its side

is broader, covering any leaning or partial movement from upright
to angle
vsto tip
23 3.2

To move or turn something so it is not straight

is about rocking or knocking from upright toward leaning or falling
to upend
vsto tip
20 5.5

Turn something so one end points up

is about simple tilting or inclining, not necessarily making an end vertical
to bank
vsto tip
12 6.4

To tilt a vehicle or plane to one side when turning

is plain moving from vertical and not specific to vehicles or turns
to slant
vsto tip
12 3.7

To lean or tilt in one direction

is the act of changing from upright position, not only the resulting angle
to skew
vsto tip
3 4.8

To turn something so it sits at an angle

is focused on moving from upright, not on straightness or parallelism
to cant
vsto tip
2 8.0

To tilt something so it leans at an angle

is more forceful, involving movement from upright that may cause falling
to upturn
vsto tip
1 4.5

To turn something so its bottom faces up

is more about leaning or slight movement rather than fully reversing sides
to overtip
vsto tip
1 5.8

To make something tilt so far that it falls over

is the everyday move from upright that may not reach falling
to tump over
vsto tip
  • UK
1 8.2

To make something that stands fall over

is the gentler action of inclining or moving from vertical before falling
to clin
vsto tip
  • Archaic
1 9.9

To lean or bend in one direction, often slowly under extra weight

is about moving from upright and can include quick falling, not only gradual bend
to cant over
vsto tip
1 8.8

To tilt to one side so it is off balance

is a general upright-moving action not limited to one-sided imbalance
to uptilt
vsto tip
1 6.7

Move something so it points upward

is a general move away from upright that does not require upward direction
to overbank
vsto tip
  • Specialized
9.5

Tilt a plane or vehicle too far when turning

is a general action of moving from upright, not a dangerous over-tilt in turning

Antonyms

96 2.7

Standing straight up and not leaning

47 1.0

Having a flat surface

Idioms

7.9

To show your plans or ideas too early to others

Phrasal Verbs

114 6.8

Secretly tell someone important information to warn or help them

33 3.0

Make something fall from a standing position

Give extra money to the person who serves you in a restaurant

to tip the wink
  • Informal
1 9.9

To give someone a secret signal or hint

Compounds

tip-off
  • Literature
13 6.6

A secret message that warns people about planned illegal activity

tip-off
  • Jargon
8 4.6

The start of a basketball game when players jump for the ball

6 6.0

A short public thank you or recognition given to someone, often in writing

5 1.8

A small piece of helpful advice for people going on a trip

4 3.0

A pen with a soft cloth tip used for drawing or coloring

pro tip
  • Texting
3 4.8

A short helpful piece of advice from an expert

A small act that shows respect or thanks

2 6.4

Private information that gives someone an advantage

tip sheet
  • Literature
1 6.7

A short paper that gives advice and guesses about business, stocks, or horse racing

1 2.1

A pen with a soft felt tip for writing or drawing

tip-in
  • Jargon
1 6.3

A shot scored by lightly tapping a rebound into the basket before it hits the ground

iceberg's tip
  • Informal
1 5.8

A small visible part of a much larger hidden problem

sirloin tip
  • Specialized
1 4.4

A lean cut of beef from the upper sirloin, slightly less tender than other sirloin cuts

A tool with a flat tip that lets you turn screws with a straight slot

1 3.7

A truck with a bed that tilts to unload loose materials like sand

Advice on managing your own money, for example saving and budgeting

1 5.6

A shoe with a pointed toe and decoration on the front that looks like a W

1 4.0

A small piece at the end of a cigarette that reduces the harshness of smoke

tip drill
  • Jargon
1 7.4

A practice exercise where players tip and pass the ball to improve reaction time and coordination

1 7.4

Folds up and moves out of the way when not in use

1 7.8

A small table with a top that tilts up to save space

heel tip
  • Specialized
5.8

The small part at the back bottom of a shoe that touches the ground and can be replaced

tip-and-run
  • Jargon
8.6

A brief attack followed by a rapid retreat

9.0

A small table with a top that folds up to stand upright for storage

9.0

A large brown bear with light fur on its head in the mountains of western North America

How Tilted

to overturn
27 4.1
to tip over
33 3.0
to tip
167 1.8
to tilt
124 2.0
to slant
12 3.7
to lean
590 1.5

Surface Forms

tip infinitive
tipped past
tipped past participle
tipping present participle
tips third person singular

Etymology

Tip as a verb meaning to lean or overturn comes from the same idea of a small 'point' or edge — imagine tipping a glass from its rim — so to tip something is to make it lean or fall from its upright place.